Advertising, display, and demonstrating sign



Wlwmim W, M36 TB. STEPHENSON m ADVERTISING, DISPLAY AND DEMONSTRATING SIGN Filed Oct. ll, 1934 2 Sheets-Shem l INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

T. B. STEPHENSON ADVERTISING, DISPLAY, AND DEMONSTRAT ING SIGN Filed Oct. 11, 1934 2 Sheets-Shem, 2

1 m, J M .%w

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADVERTISING, DISPLAY, AND DEMON- STBATING SIGN 7 Claims.

My invention relates to. improvements in ad!- vertising, display, and demonstrating signs, and

more particularly to a sign of that class having incorporated therein some form of movement for the purpose of attracting the attention of a prospective purchaser.

An object of my invention is, to p ovide, in such a sign, the actual article advertised in such a manner as to indicate, the use t9 which the article is adapted.

A further object of my invention, is to provide, in su h a Sign, an c means for duplicating the operation of the advertised article in ordinary use, thereby instructing a prQSDective purchaser, who views the sign, in the proper use of the article advertised therein.

These, and other objects and advantages of my invention, will be more completely described and disclosed in the specification, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Broadly, my invention comprises a. frame member, a plate, or board, secured. in the frame member, an article mounted on the board, a.

figure mounted in the frame in front of the article, for the purpose of illustrating the, use of the article, a sign on the board, means for intermittently operating the article, in such a manner as to simulate its operation in ordinary use, and means for intermittently illuminating the article and the sign in synchronism with the operating means.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown and" will describe an atomizer as the article to be displayed, but it will be readily understood by those skilled in this art, that my invention is adaptable for use with any transparent, closed, receptacle, capable of holding a liquid. I, therefore, do not confine, or limit myself, to the use of an atomizer in combination with my invention.

This embodiment of my invention, for the display of an atomizer, is illustrated in the ac-. mpany n drawin s, whi h;-

Fi 1 is a fr nt, elevational view oi he S gn Fig. 2 is a rear, elevational view of the same, illustrating the operative parts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail View, partially in section, of the atomizer and the operating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the shut-ofi valve.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing the valve in open position, and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the valve in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in,

terial. The figure 3 is placed slightly in advance of the board 2, and the board 2 and, figure 3 are supported at the back by brace members 4 and 5. A secondary frame, or box member 6, for enclosing and supporting the operating 15;:

mechanism, is secured to the back of the frame I and the braces 4 and 5. The figure 3 may, if desired, be originally printed on the board 2, then out out, as indicated at 2', in Fig. 2. The

board 2 is also cut, or slotted, at I, to provide a support for an atomizer 8, and formed with an opening 9 over which a sign stencil I0 is secured. The top, or nozzle II of the atomizer 8, is connected by a tube 52, to a valve casing I3,

secured on the box member or frame 6, and 25 thence through a port, or chamber I4, in a valve I5 to the open, or external, air through a port I6 in the casing IS. The intake tube II, in the atomizer 8, is connected by a tube I8, to the valve casing I3 and thence by means of a port IB in the valve I5 into a chamber, or by-pass I9, in the valve I5. The chamber I9 is connected, by means of a port 20' to a tube 20, secured in the casing I3, which leads to and is connected to a ball valve 2| on an air-tight receptacle 22. The receptacle 22: is provided with an inlet valve 23 and an electric heating coil 24. The coil 24 and a lamp 25, secured in the box frame member 6, are connected by wires 26 and 21 and plug 28 to a standard automatic make and break switch 29, for producing an intermittentv effect, which may be plugged into any convenient source of electrical energy, (not shown). The atomizer 8 is partially filled with a suitable liquid 39, colored if desired. The valve I5 is 45 provided with an operating lever 3| to close the valve, when the sign is being moved, or shipped, to prevent passage of the liquid 30 through the port I6, or the chamber I9. Closing of the valve I5 will move the ports I8 and 20' out of regis-v ter with the tubes I8 and 20, thereby closing or stopping the ends of the tubes I8 and 20 in the. casing I3.

In operation, when the switch 29 is closed, the atomizer 8 and the stencil I0 will be simultaneously illuminated by the lamp 25, and the coil 24 will heat the air in the air-tight receptable 22, which will be forced, by expansion through the tube 20, chamber, or by-pass l9, tube I8 and intake tube i1, into the liquid 30, where it will appear, to an observer, in the form of a cloud of bubbles 32 passing upwardly through the liquid 38. This air will be expelled through the nozzle H, tube [2, chamber, or port [4, and port l6. When the switch 29 is opened, a partial vacuum will be formed in the receptacle 22; the valve 2! will close and air will cease to flow into the liquid 35. At the same time, the valve 23 will open and admit a fresh supply of air into the receptacle 22, which will be heated and forced through the liquid 30 at the following cycle of the switch 29.

It will be understood that the apparatus may be operated effectively, without the lamp 25, but the effect is emphasized by providing for light to flash through the atomizer and the stencil at the time the bubbles appear in the liquid.

It will also be understood that, when the air in the receptacle 22 cools, the valve 2i will close and prevent a suction, or siphon effect, so that 1 of said valve, an air vent in said liquid-receiving receptacle, communicating means between said vent and the other chamber of said valve, and means for forcing the air from said airreceiving receptacle into a liquid in said liquidreceiving receptacle, whereby when the valve is closed, all of said communicating means will be closed.

2. In an apparatus for the purpose described, a frame member, a partition in said frame member, a member in said frame member positioned or spaced in front of said partition member and simulating the head of a person, said partition member being provided with an opening, an atomizer in said opening, a translucent sign in said partition, means for illuminating the back of said atomizer and said sign, said atomizer being partially filled with a liquid, an air-receiving receptacle, means for heating the air in the receptacle for forcing the air into the liquid in said atomizer, and means for intermittently operating said heating means and said illuminating means in synchronism.

3. In an apparatus for the purpose described, a frame member, a partition in said frame member and provided with an opening, a translucent sign in said partition, a transparent liquid-receiving receptacle in said opening, a member in said frame member showing a fanciful representation of an object and spaced from and in front of said partition, a lamp in said frame member for illuminating the back of said liquidreceiving receptacle and said sign, an air-receiving receptacle in said frame member and provided with an electric heating coil, connecting means between the liquid-receiving receptacle and the air-receiving receptacle, whereby when the air is heated in the air-receiving receptacle, it will be forced into the liquid-receiving receptacle, means for connecting said lamp and said heating coil to a source of electrical energy including a make and break switch member for intermittently actuating said heating coil and said lamp.

4. In combination, in an atomizing apparatus for the purpose described, a receptacle containing atmospheric air, means for intermittently heating the air therein, a transparent receptacle in which a liquid to be atomized is placed, communicating means between the said receptacles, a valve, a by-pass in the valve and included in the communicating means for opening and closing the communicating means and for preventing a siphon effect between the said receptacles when the air in the air receptacle is cooled, means for permitting the air in the liquid-receiving receptacle to escape to the atmosphere, and supplemental means in the said communicating means for preventing suction effect from the liquid in the transparent receptacle to the air receptacle in the event the said by-pass is left open.

5. In combination, of a liquid-receiving receptacle having a liquid therein, a receptacle containing air, means for heating the air in the same, pipe means for conducting the heated and expanded air from the air receptacle to and downwardly through the liquid in said receptacle for agitating the same to produce an atomizing effect, and valve means in the said air-conducting means for preventing the liquid in said receptacle from flowing-back into the air receptacle when the heating means is discontinued and the air therein cools, also, valve means in the pipe means, having two chambers, one for the escape of air, and one for the admission of air to the receptacle.

6. In an apparatus for visibly demonstrating an atomizable liquid for nasal use, of a transparent liquid-receiving receptacle having said liquid therein, the receptacle being located adjacent the nostril of the head portion of a fanciful person, an air-receiving receptacle having air therein, connecting means between the airreceiving receptacle and the interior of the liquid-receiving receptacle, means for heating the air in the air receptacle for forcing it into and through the liquid in the receptacle to produce bubbles therein, and means for simultaneously illuminating the agitated air in the liquid receptacle when the heated air passes therethrough.

7. In an apparatus for visibly demonstrating an atomizable liquid for nasal use, of a transparent liquid-receiving receptacle having said liquid therein, the receptacle being located adjacent the nostril of the head portion of a fanciful person, an air-receiving receptacle having air therein, connecting means between the airreceiving receptacle and the interior of the liquid-receiving receptacle, means for heating the air in the air receptacle for forcing it into and through the liquid in the receptacle to produce bubbles therein, means for simultaneously illuminating the agitated air in the liquid receptacle when the heated air passes therethrough, the air-heating means being intermittently operable, and means for checking the flow of the liquid from its receptacle when the heating means ceases.

- THOMAS B. STEPHENSON. 

